Things to Do in Tomarza: 7 Places to Visit

Places to Visit in Tomarza

• 4 Historic
• 1 Religious
• 2 Nature

While you are in Tomarza, you can also see the highlights of Kayseri province. These places are in other districts.

• Mount Erciyes and Ski Resort — An extinct volcano 25 km south of the city and, at 3,916 metres, the highest mountain in Central Anatolia; its ski resort, between 2,150 and 3,400 metres, is one of the largest in Türkiye.
• Kültepe (Kaniş-Karum) — The ancient city of Kaniş, 20 km north-east of the city, where Assyrian merchants had their trading colony in the early 2nd millennium BC; the cuneiform tablets found here are the earliest known written documents in Anatolia.
• Gevher Nesibe Hospital (Darüşşifa) — The "Twin Madrasa" (Çifte Medrese), consisting of a hospital and a medical madrasa, built in 1206 at the bequest of Gevher Nesibe, daughter of the Seljuk Sultan Kılıçarslan II; it is counted among the world's first centres of medical education and healthcare.
• Hunat Hatun Complex — A complex of mosque, madrasa, hammam and tomb built in 1238 by Mahperi Hunat Hatun, wife of Alaeddin Keykubad I; it is one of the first large complexes in Anatolia built by a woman.
• Kayseri Castle — A castle of black basalt in the city centre, begun in the Roman period and repaired under the Seljuks and Ottomans; inside are the Fatih Mosque and a bazaar.
• Döner Tomb — A twelve-sided tomb (kümbet) on the Talas road, built in 1276 for Şah Cihan Hatun, daughter of Alaeddin Keykubad I; its reliefs include human-headed lions, a double-headed eagle and tree-of-life motifs.

Practical Information for Visiting Tomarza

Suggested time

Half a day

Best time to visit

Spring and autumn

Places to visit

7 places

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  Kayseri Mantısı (Kayseri dumplings)

  Small pieces of dough filled with minced meat, boiled and served with yoghurt and garlic sauce. An important part of the district's gastronomic identity, this dish is a favourite with visitors.

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  Tarhana Çorbası (dried yoghurt and wheat soup)

  Tarhana, made with yoghurt, wheat and vegetables, is an essential soup of winter tables. A hot bowl of tarhana soup at breakfast is the local way to start the day with energy.

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  Tomarza kabak çekirdeği (pumpkin seeds)

  Snacking pumpkin seeds produced in the tuffaceous soils on the slopes of Mount Erciyes; the district name has been registered as a geographical indication.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Tomarza

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  Multicultural Heritage

  In the Ottoman period, Tomarza was a settlement where Turkish and Armenian communities lived side by side. The remains of its church and mosque reflect this heritage.

Local Products

• Tomarza Pumpkin Seeds — Tomarza Pumpkin Seeds were registered as a protected designation of origin on 23 September 2014 (TÜRKPATENT registration no. 185). Product group: processed and unprocessed fruits, vegetables and mushrooms. Registered by: Tomarza District Pumpkin Seed (Pumpkin Seed) Producers' Union.
• Tomarza Apple — Apples grown in Tomarza's cool climate, known for their aromatic character.

Economy

The economy of Tomarza is based on agriculture and livestock farming. Apples, cereals and potatoes are the main agricultural products.

How to Get to Tomarza

Tomarza is 55 km from Kayseri. Minibus services run from Kayseri.

Get directions on Google Maps Getting to Kayseri

Tomarza: Frequently Asked Questions

Continue Your Trip

• 🍽️ What to Eat in Tomarza Famous dishes and local products →
• 🗺️ Things to Do in Kayseri The province's 12 best places and all its districts →

Other Districts of Kayseri

• Akkışla 6 places Akkışla Plateaus, Uğurlu Castle and Tabal Ruins
• Bünyan 5 places Bünyan Grand Mosque, Sultanhanı and Karatay Caravanserai
• Develi 9 places Sultan Sazlığı Bird Paradise, Southern Slope of Mount Erciyes and Öksüt Castle
• Felahiye 4 places Felahiye Castle, Felahiye Plain and Sıtmapınar
• Hacılar 5 places Mount Erciyes, Eğribucak Vineyards and Hacılar Mound
• İncesu 6 places İncesu Caravanserai, İncesu Underground City and İncesu Castle
• Kocasinan 7 places Kayseri Covered Bazaar, Kocasinan Park and Sultan Sazlığı Bird Paradise
• Melikgazi 12 places Hunat Hatun Complex, Kayseri Castle and Gevher Nesibe Medical Museum
• Özvatan 3 places Özvatan Plain, Özvatan Historic Mosque and Harsanız and Zırha Castles
• Pınarbaşı 6 places Zamantı River, Pınarbaşı Castle and Pınarbaşı Plateaus
• Sarıoğlan 6 places Kızılırmak Valley, Sarıoğlan Castle and Tuzla Lake
• Sarız 4 places Sarız Plateaus, Sarız Castle and Sarız Stream
• Talas 7 places Ali Dağı Ski Centre, Talas Historic Houses and Talas Virgin Mary Church
• Yahyalı 7 places Kapuzbaşı Waterfalls, Aladağlar National Park and Hacer Forest
• Yeşilhisar 4 places Soğanlı Valley, Yeşilhisar Castle and Yeşilhisar Yeraltı Şehri